Wheel



(No Model.) J M. COMES.

WHEEL.

Patented July 2, `1895.

Utsrrnn Sterns Arnim* raros.

JAMES MARCUS COHBS, OF AUBURN, NEBRASKA.

' WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,184, dated July 2,1895. Application filed January 10,1893. Serial No. 5341455- (NO modemTo @ZZ whom t 'may concern,.-

Be it known that L'JAMEs MARcUs CoMBs, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Auburn, in the county of Nemaha and State of Nebraska, haveinvented a new and`useful Wheel, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in wheels, the objects in Viewbeing to provide a simple, strong, and durablewheel in which the spokesare devoid of tenons and the hub is not provided with sockets for thereception of tenons, thus avoiding the weakening of the spoke; toprovide improved means for attaching the spokes to the hub, whereby theformer may be fitted in place without driving the-same as in theordinary practice; to provide means whereby the spokes are clampedlaterally and may be tightened by adjusting the clamping devices to takeup lost motion due to shrinkage, and to provide means whereby the spokesare held in place temporarily during their adjustment and duringarrangement of the clamping devices which permanently secure themrto thehub.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a wheelconstructed in accordance with my invention. f Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection of the same. Fig. 3 is a front view. Fig. 4 is a transversesection on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side view of the boxAwith the spokes omitted to show the sockets for the tongues on the innerends of the spokes. Fig. 6 is a detail view in perspective of the innerend of a spoke. Fig. 7 is a detail view in perspective of aportion ofone of the hub-sections to show the pockets for the reception of thetongues on the inner ends of the spokes.

Similar numerals ofV reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

l designates the box which is constructed interiorly to fit the spindlefor which it is designed, and cast integral with this box is a flange 2,having a flat or plain inner face arranged perpendicular to the axis ofthe box. The outer end of the body portion of the box is extended toform a flange 5. The inner end of the box is reduced, as shown at 6, andsaid reduced portion is exteriorly threaded to engage thc threaded boreof the adjustable collar 7, and between this adjustable collar and thefixed Hange 2 is a removable flange 8, provided at its inner side with areduced thimble 9, over which fits the flange 10 at the outer end of theadjustable collar to break the joint. The outer surface of the removableflange is arranged parallel with the inner surface of the fixed ange 2,and is spaced therefrom a distance equal to the width of the spokes ll,

which tit therebetween. The inner ends of the spokes are enlargedinstead of being reduced to form tenons, as shown at l2, and theseenlarged inner extremities which fit between the fiat facing-surfaces ofthe fixed and removable flanges are tapered radially to causetheir'contiguous surfaces to lie in planes corresponding with the radiiof the wheel, and said inner extremities are cross-sectionallydovetailed alternately'in opposite directions, whereby they serve tolock each other in place and insure the accurate'fitting of the parts.This cross-sectionally dovetailed construction also provides for theinner ends of the spokes vbeing fitted more snugly around the centerwithout involving difficulty in arranging the same.

rlhe exterior surface of the box in the space between thefacing-surfaces of the fixed and removable fianges is provided withlongitudinal pockets 13, consisting of grooves formed in the surface ofthe'box and closed laterally by the band 14, and the inner extremitiesof the spokes are provided with longitudinallydisposed tongues 15, whichare adapted to fit in said pockets, the same being inserted from theinner ends of the pockets. Said tongues are attached to the spokes bymeans of plates 16, which are let into the material of the spokes to liefiush at their outer surfaces with the surfaces of the inner sides ofthe spokes. The fixed flange is provided upon its inner surface with aseries of spurs 17, one for each spoke, and arranged, respectively,radially opposite the pockets on the surface of the box,

whereby when the spokes are arranged with their tongues in engagementwith the pockets the spurs may be engaged with the spokes by strikingthe latter upon their inner sides TOO and driving their outer sidesagainst the inner surface of the fixed flange. This constructionprovides for holding the spokes in place during their arrangement in theproper positions around the hub, and after such arrangement has beencompleted the removable flange is fitted to place and is secured bymeans of the threaded collar. The adjustment of this collar forces theremovable fiange firmly against the inner surfaces of the spokes andthus clamps them between said removable tiange and the fixed flange.

The above construction provides for the removal and replacement withfacility of a broken or injured spoke, or a number ot' such parts, andalso provides for taking up lost motion by tightening the threadedcollar when the spokes are loosened by shrinkage. Said construction alsoprovides for building the wheel with facility, and inasmuch as thespokes are not reduced at their inner ends to form tenons but areenlarged to lie in contact at their contiguous sides in planescorresponding with the radii of the hub, insures great strength andrigidity and also reduces the labor of constructingr the wheel.

The removable collar at the inner end of the hub is provided with aninner iiange 18, to form a dustguard, as in the ordinary construction,and said collar is provided with an opening or socket 19, for engagementby a wrench of any suitable construction for applying and removing thecollar.

1t will be understood that in practice, Various changes in the form,proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted toWithout departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages ofthis invention. Itis obvious that the construction of the box and theouter section of the hub is such as to avoid the necessity of settingthe box,

and prevent the same from becoming loosened in the hub, as in theordinary Wheel.

Having described my invention, I claim- In a Wheel, the combination of abox having a fixed flange, and a series of longitudinal tongue 15arranged parallel vvith said extremis ties to lit in the pockets on thebox, said tongues extending outwardly or from the rcmovable flange,substantially as specitied.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto alxed mysignature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES MARCUS COMES.

Witnesses:

THOMAS LEE HALL, WM. H. HAY.

